Microbicides

ABSTRACT

A plant-microbicidal composition having synergistic action, comprising at least two active ingredient components, wherein component I is a compound selected from the group 
     IA) cis-4-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-2,6-dimethylmorpholine (&#34;fenpropimorph&#34;); and/or 
     1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine (&#34;fenpropidin&#34;), or one of the salts or metal complexes thereof; 
     IB) 4-(2,2-difluoro- 1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)- 1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (&#34;fludioxonil&#34;); 
     IC) N-(trichloromethylthio)cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboximide (&#34;captan&#34;); 
     ID) a compound of formula ID ##STR1## wherein R 1  is fluorine or chlorine and 
     R 2  is chlorine or trifluoromethyl, and 
     IE) N-(trichloromethylthio)phthalimide (&#34;folpet&#34;); 
     and component II is the 2-anilinopyrimidine of formula II ##STR2## 4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrimidineamine, or one of the salts or metal complexes thereof.

The present invention relates to novel microbicidal active-ingredientmixtures having synergistically enhanced action, comprising at least twoactive ingredient components, and to methods of using such mixtures inplant protection.

Component I is a compound selected from the group:

IA) cis-4-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-2,6-dimethylmorpholine("fenpropimorph"); and/or

1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine ("fenpropidin"), orone of the salts or metal complexes thereof; (reference: DE 2 752 135);

IB ) 4-(2,2-difluoro- 1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)- 1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile("fludioxonil"; reference: EP-A-206 999);

IC) N-(trichloromethylthio)cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboximide ("captan";reference: U.S. Pat. No. 2 553 770);

ID) a compound of formula ID ##STR3## wherein R₁ is fluorine or chlorineand

R₂ is chlorine or trifluoromethyl. (References: EP-A-236 272; DE 2 927480); and

IE) N-(trichloromethylthio)phthalimide ("folpet"; reference: U.S. Pat.No. 2,553,770).

Component II is the 2-anilinopyrimidine of formula II ##STR4##

4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrimidineamine, or one of the saltsor metal complexes thereof (reference: EP-A-310 550).

Of the compounds of formula IA, preference is given to1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine ("fenpropidin").

Of the compounds of formula ID, preference is given to the compoundwherein R₁ and R₂ are chlorine.:4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile ("fenpiclonil").

Of the acids that can be used for the preparation of salts of formulaeIA and II, the following may be mentioned:

hydrohalic acids, such as hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid or hydriodic acid; sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid,nitric acid; and organic acids, such as acetic acid, trifluoroaceticacid, trichloroacetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, thiocyanicacid, lactic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamicacid, oxalic acid, formic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesuffonicacid, methanesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, p-aminosalicylic acid,2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid and1,2-naphthalene-disulfonic acid.

The term salts also includes metal complexes of basic components I andII. Those complexes may as desired involve only one component or the twocomponents independently. It is also possible to produce metal complexesin which the two active ingredients I and II are linked together to forma mixed complex.

Metal complexes consist of the underlying organic molecule and aninorganic or organic metal salt, for example a halide, nitrate, sulfate,phosphate, acetate, trifluoroacetate, trichloroacetate, propionate,tartrate, sulfonate, salicylate, benzoate, etc., of an element of maingroup II, such as calcium and magnesium and of main groups III and IV,such as aluminium, tin or lead, and of subgroups I to VIII, such aschromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, etc..Preference is given to the subgroup elements of the 4th period. Themetals may have any of the different valencies in which they occur. Themetal complexes can be mono- or poly-nuclear, i.e. they can contain oneor more organic molecule components as ligands.

Further agrochemical active ingredients, such as insecticides,acaricides, nematicides, herbicides, growth regulators and fertilisers,but especially additional microbicides, may also be added to the activeingredient mixture according to the invention.

It has now been found, surprisingly, that the fungicidal action ofmixtures of components I and H is not merely additive but is clearlysynergistically enhanced.

The present invention therefore represents a very substantial enrichmentof the art.

In addition, the present invention relates also to a method ofcontrolling fungi which comprises treating a site infested by orthreatened by infestation by fungi with, in any desired sequence orsimultaneously, a) a compound of formula I or one of the salts thereofand b) the compound of formula II or one of the salts thereof, it beingpossible also for the salts to so selected that the two compounds arebonded to an acid radical or, in the case of a metal complex, to acentral metal cation.

Advantageous mixing ratios of the two compounds are I:II=1:20 to 10: 1,preferably I:II=1:6 to 6:1.

Especially advantageous mixing ratios are

IA:II=1:4 to 2:1

IB:II=5:1 to 1:5

IC:II=5:1 to 1:2

ID:II=5:1 to 1:5

IE:II=5:1 to 1:2.

The compound mixtures I+II according to the invention have veryadvantageous curative, preventive and systemic fungicidal properties forprotecting plants. The compound mixtures of the invention can be used toinhibit or to destroy the microorganisms occurring on plants or on partsof plants (the fruit, blossom, leaves, stalks, tubers or roots) ofdifferent crops of useful plants, while at the same time pans of plantsthat grow later am also protected against such microorganisms. They canalso be used as dressings in the treatment of plant propagationmaterial, especially seed (fruit, tubers, grain) and plant cuttings (forexample rice), to provide protection against fungal infections andagainst phytopathogenic fungi occurring in the soil. The compoundmixtures according to the invention am distinguished by the fact thatthey are especially well tolerated by plants and arc environmentallyfriendly.

The compound mixtures are effective against phytopathogenic fungibelonging to the following classes: Ascomycetes (e.g. Venturia,Podosphaera, Erysiphc, Monilinia, Uncinula); Basidiomycetes (e.g. thegenera Hemileia, Rhizoctonia, Puccinia); Fungi imperfecti (e.g.Botrytis, Helminthosporium, Rhynchosporium, Fusarium, Septofia,Cercospora, Alternaria, Pyricularia and especially Pseudocercosporellaherpotrichoides); Oomyceten (z.B. Phytophthora, Pernospora, Bremia,Pythium, Plasmopara).

Target crops to be protected within the scope of the present inventioncomprise, for example, the following species of plants: cereals: (wheat,barley, rye, oats, rice, sorghum and related species); beets: (sugarbeet and fodder beet); pomes, stone fruit and soft fruit: (apples,pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries andblackberries); leguminous plants: (beans, lentils, peas and soybeans);oil plants: (rape, mustard, poppy, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castoroil plants, cocoa beans and groundnuts); cucumber plants: (marrows,cucumber and melons); fibre plants: (cotton, flax, hemp and jute);citrus fruit: (oranges, lemons, grapefruit and mandarins); vegetables:(spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes,potatoes and paprika); lauraceae: (avocados, cinnamon and camphor); orplants such as maize, tobacco, nuts, coffee, sugar cane, tea, vines,hops, bananas and natural rubber plants, as well as ornamentals(flowers, shrubs, broad-leaved trees and evergreens, such as conifers).That list does not represent any limitation.

The compound mixtures according to the invention are especiallyadvantageous for the following applications:

IA+II: in cereals, especially in wheat and barley;

IB+II: in vines and vegetables, and in the treatment of plantpropagation material, such as seed, tubers and cuttings;

IC+II: in fruit and vegetables, especially apples and pears;

ID+II: in the treatment of plant propagation material, such as seed,tubers and cuttings;

IE+II: in vines and vegetables.

The mixtures of compounds of formulae I and II are generally used in theform of compositions. The compounds of formula I and the compound offormula II can be applied to the area or plant to be treated, eithersimultaneously or in succession on the same day, together with, whereappropriate, further carriers, surfactants or otherapplication-promoting adjuvants customarily employed in formulationtechnology.

Suitable carriers and adjuvants may be solid or liquid and aresubstances ordinarily employed in formulation technology, for examplenatural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants,wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners, binders or fertilisers.

A preferred method of applying a compound mixture comprising at leastone of each of compounds I and II is application to the parts of theplants that are above the soil, especially to the leaves (foliarapplication). The frequency and rate of application depend on thebiological and climatic living conditions of the pathogens. Thecompounds can, however, also penetrate the plants through the roots viathe soil (systemic action) if the locus of the plant is impregnated witha liquid formulation, or if the compounds are introduced in solid forminto the soil, e.g. in the form of granules (soil application). In orderto treat the seed, the compounds of formulae I and II may also beapplied to the seeds (coating) either by impregnating the tubers orgrains in succession with liquid formulations each comprising one of thecompounds or by coating them with an already combined wet or dryformulation. In addition, in special cases, other methods of applicationto plants are possible, e.g. treatment directed at the buds or thefruit.

The compounds of the combination are used in unmodified form orpreferably together with the adjuvants conventionally employed informulation technology, and are therefore formulated in known manner,e.g. into emulsifiable concentrates, coatable pastes, directly sprayableor dilutable solutions, dilute emulsions, wettable powders, solublepowders, dusts or granules, or by encapsulation in e.g. polymersubstances. As with the nature of the compositions, the methods ofapplication, such as spraying, atomising, dusting, scattering, coatingor pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives andthe prevailing circumstances. Advantageous rates of application of theactive ingredient mixture are generally from 50 g to 2 kg a.i./ha,preferably from 100 g to 1000 g a.i./ha, especially from 400 g to 1000 ga.i./ha. In the case of the treatment of seed, the rates of applicationare from 0.5 g to 1000 g, preferably from 5 g to 100 g, a.i. per 100 kgof seed.

The formulations are prepared in known manner, e.g. by homogeneouslymixing and/or grinding the active ingredients with extenders, e.g.solvents, solid carriers and, where appropriate, surface-activecompounds (surfactants).

Suitable solvents are: aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably the fractionscontaining 8 to 12 carbon atoms, such as xylene mixtures or substitutednaphthalenes, phthalates, such as dibutyl or dioctyl phthalate,aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, or paraffins, alcohols andglycols and theft ethers and esters, such as ethanol, ethylene glycol,ethylene glycol monomethyl or monoethyl ether, ketones, such ascyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone,dimethyl sulfoxide or dimethylformamide, and vegetable oils orepoxidised vegetable oils, such as epoxidised coconut oil or soybeanoil; and water.

The solid carriers used, e.g. for dusts and dispersible powders, arenormally natural mineral fillers, such as calcite, talcum, kaolin,montmofillonite or attapulgite. In order to improve the physicalproperties it is also possible to add highly dispersed silicic acid orhighly dispersed absorbent polymers. Suitable granulated adsorptivecarriers are porous types, for example pumice, broken brick, scpioliteor bentonitc; and suitable nonsorbent carriers are e.g. calcite or sand.In addition, a great number of pregranulated materials of inorganic ororganic nature can be used, such as especially dolomite or pulvefisedplant residues.

Depending on the nature of the compounds of formulae I and II to beformulated, suitable surface-active compounds are non-ionic, cationicand/or anionic surfactants having good emulsifying, dispersing andwetting properties. The term "surfactants" will also be understood ascomprising mixtures of surfactants.

The surfactants customarily used in formulation technology are foundinter alia in the following publications:

"Mc Cutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual" MC Publishing Corp.,Glen Rock, N.J., 1988.

M. and J. Ash, "Encyclopedia of Surfactants", Vol. I-III, ChemicalPublishing Co., N.Y., 1980-1981.

Especially advantageous application-promoting adjuvants are also naturalor synthetic phospholipids from the series of cephalins and lecithins,such as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine,phosphatidylglycerol and lysolecithin.

The agrochemical compositions generally comprise 0.1 to 99 %, preferably0.1 to 95 %, of compounds of formulae I and II, 99.9 to 1%, preferably99.9 to 5 %, of a solid or liquid adjuvant and 0 to 25 %, preferably 0.1to 25 %, of a surfactant.

Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated asconcentrates, the end user will normally employ dilute formulations.

The present invention relates also to such (agro)chemical compositions.The Examples that follow serve to illustrate the invention, "activeingredient" denoting a mixture of compound I and compound II in aspecific mixing ratio.

Formulation Examples

    ______________________________________                                        Wettable powders    a)       b)     c)                                        ______________________________________                                        active ingredient   25%      50%    75%                                       [I:II = 1:3(a), 1:2(b), 1:1 (c)]                                              sodium lignosulfonate                                                                              5%       5%    --                                        sodium laurylsulfate                                                                               3%      --      5%                                       sodium diisobutylnaphthalene-                                                                     --        6%    10%                                       sulfonate                                                                     octylphenol polyethylene glycol                                                                   --        2%    --                                        ether (7-8 mol of ethylene oxide)                                             highly dispersed silicic acid                                                                      5%      10%    10%                                       kaolin              62%      27%    --                                        ______________________________________                                    

The active ingredient is thoroughly mixed with the adjuvants and themixture is thoroughly ground in a suitable mill, affording wettablepowders which can be diluted with water to give suspensions of thedesired concentration.

    ______________________________________                                        Emulsifiable concentrate                                                      ______________________________________                                        active ingredient (I:II = 1:6)                                                                       10%                                                    octylphenol polyethylene glycol ether                                                                 3%                                                    (4-5 mol of ethylene oxide)                                                   calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate                                                                       3%                                                    castor oil polyglycol ether                                                                           4%                                                    (35 mol of ethylene oxide)                                                    cyclohexanone          30%                                                    xylene mixture         50%                                                    ______________________________________                                    

Emulsions of any required concentration, which can be used in plantprotection, can be obtained from this concentrate by dilution withwater.

    ______________________________________                                        Dusts               a)      b)      c)                                        ______________________________________                                        active ingredient    5%      6%      4%                                       [I:II = 1:4 (a); 1:5 (b) and 1:1 (c)]                                         talcum              95%     --      --                                        kaolin              --      94%     --                                        mineral filler      --      --      96%                                       ______________________________________                                    

Ready-for-use dusts are obtained by mixing the active ingredient withthe carrier and grinding the mixture in a suitable mill. Such powderscan also be used for dry dressings for seed.

    ______________________________________                                        Extruder granules                                                             ______________________________________                                        active ingredient (I:II = 1:1.5)                                                                   15%                                                      sodium lignosulfonate                                                                               2%                                                      carboxymethylcellulose                                                                              1%                                                      kaolin               82%                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The active ingredient is mixed and ground with the adjuvants, and themixture is moistened with water. The mixture is extruded and then driedin a stream of air.

    ______________________________________                                        Coated granules                                                               ______________________________________                                        active ingredient (I:II = 3:5)                                                                       8%                                                     polyethylene glycol (mol. wt. 200)                                                                   3%                                                     kaolin                 89%                                                    (mol. wt. = molecular weight)                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The finely ground active ingredient is uniformly applied, in a mixer, tothe kaolin moistened with polyethylene glycol. Non-dusty coated granulesare obtained in this manner.

    ______________________________________                                        Suspension concentrate                                                        ______________________________________                                        active ingredient (I:II = 3:7)                                                                        40%                                                   propylene glycol        10%                                                   nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether                                                                  6%                                                   (15 mol of ethylene oxide)                                                    sodium lignosulfonate   10%                                                   carboxymethylcellulose   1%                                                   silicone oil (in the form of a 75%                                                                     1%                                                   aqueous emulsion)                                                             water                   32%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The finely ground active ingredient is intimately mixed with theadjuvants, giving a suspension concentrate from which suspensions of anydesired concentration can be obtained by dilution with water. Suchconcentrations can be used to treat living plants and plant propagationmaterial by spraying, pouring or immersion and to protect them againstinfestation by microorganisms.

Biological Examples

In the case of fungicides, a synergistic effect exists whenever thefungicidal action of the active ingredient combination is greater thatthe sum of the actions of the active ingredients applied individually.

The action E to be expected for a given active ingredient combination,e.g. of two fungicides, obeys the so-called COLBY formula and can becalculated as follows (COLBY, S.R. "Calculating synergistic andantagonistic responses of herbicide combination ". Weeds, Vol. 15, pages20-22; 1967):

ppm=milligram of active ingredient (=ai) per litre of spray mixture

X=% action by fungicide I using p ppm of active ingredient

Y=% action by fungitide II using q ppm of active ingredient and

E=the expected action of fungicities I+II using p+q ppm of activeingredient (additive action): ##EQU1##

If the action (O) actually observed is greater than the expected action(E), then the action of the combination is superadditive, i.e. there isa synergistic effect.

O/E=synergy factor (SF).

In the Examples that follow, the infestation of the untreated plants issaid to be 100%, which corresponds to an action of 0%.

EXAMPLE 1 Action Against Botrytis cinerea on Apples

Artificially damaged apples are treated by the dropwise application of aspray mixture (30 microlitres of active ingredient or active ingredientcombination) to the damaged area. The treated fruit are then inoculatedwith a spore suspension of the fungus and incubated for one week at highhumidity at about 20° C. The fungicidal action of the test compound iscalculated from the number and size of the damaged areas that haverotted. The following results are obtained:

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Compound IB: fludioxonil                                                                     % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IB   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0 (control)                                        1     0.2     --            0                                                 2     0.6     --           20                                                 3     2       --           40                                                 4     6       --           90                                                 5     --      0.2           0                                                 6     --      0.6           0                                                 7     --      2            20                                                 8     --      20           95                                                 9     0.6     2       1:3  40      36      1.1                                10    0.6     0.2     3:1  40      20      2.0                                11    2       0.2     10:1 98      40      2.4                                12    2       0.6     3:1  98      40      2.4                                13    2       2       1:1  95      52      1.8                                14    6       0.2     30:1 100     90      1.1                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2 Action Against Botrytis Cinerea on Vines

5-week-old vine seedlings are sprayed with a suspension prepared from aformulation of the test compound and infected after 2 days with aconidia suspension of B. cinerea. The seedlings are incubated for 4 daysat 21° C. and 95-100 % relative humidity in a greenhouse and theinfestation is then assessed. The following results are obtained:

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Compound IB: fludioxonil                                                                     % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IB   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0 (control)                                        1     0.6     --       0                                                      2     2       --           80                                                 3     6       --           90                                                 4     --      0.2           0                                                 5     --      0.6           0                                                 6     --      2            20                                                 7     --      20           90                                                 8     2       0.6     3:1  90      80      1.12                               9     0.6     0.2     3:1  20       0      *                                  10    2       0.2     10:1 98      80      1.22                               ______________________________________                                         *synergy factor SF cannot be calculated                                  

EXAMPLE 3 Action Against Venturia inaequalis on Apples

Apple cuttings with 10 to 20 cm long fresh shoots are sprayed to drippoint with a spray mixture prepared from a formulation of the activeingredient or active ingredient combination. After 24 hours the treatedplants are infected with a conidia suspension of the fungus. The treatedplants are then incubated for 3 days at 90 to 100% relative humidity and20° C. and then placed in a greenhouse for a further 10 days at 20° to24° C. The infestation is assessed 14 days after infection. Thefollowing results are obtained:

                  TABLE 3a                                                        ______________________________________                                        Compound IB: fludioxonil                                                                     % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IB   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0 (control)                                        1     2       --           40                                                 2     --      2            20                                                 3     2       2       1:1  73      52      1.4                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3b                                                        ______________________________________                                        Compound IC: captan                                                                          % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IC   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0 (control)                                        1      10     --            0                                                 2      25     --            0                                                 3      50     --           42                                                 4     100     --           60                                                 5     150     --           91                                                 6     250     --           94                                                 7     --      1            11                                                 8     --      5            16                                                 9     --      10           74                                                 10    --      25           94                                                 11    --      50           98                                                 12    10      1       10:1 49      11      4.5                                13    10      5        2:1 56      16      3.5                                14    50      5       10:1 75      51      1.5                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4 Action Against Puccinia recondita on Wheat

10-day-old wheat plants are sprayed to drip point with a spray mixtureprepared from a formulation of the active ingredient or activeingredient combination. After 24 hours the treated plants are infectedwith a conidia suspension of the fungus. The treated plants are thenincubated for 2 days at 90-100 % relative humidity and at 20° C. 2 weeksafter infection the fungal infestation is assessed. The followingresults are obtained:

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Compound IA: fenpropidin                                                                     % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IA   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0 (control)                                        1     125     --            5                                                 2     250     --           73                                                 3             250           5                                                 4             500          10                                                 5             1000         46                                                 6     125     250     1:2  19      10      1.9                                7     125     500     1:4  53      15      3.5                                8     125     1000    1:8  70      49      1.4                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 5 Action Against Erysiphe graminis on Barley

7-day-old barley plants are sprayed to drip point with a spray mixtureprepared from a formulation of the active ingredient or activeingredient combination. After 1 day the plants are inoculated with aconidia suspension of Erysiphe graminis and incubated in a greenhouse at21 ° C. and 50-80% humidity. After one week the fungal infestation isassessed. The following results are obtained:

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Compound IA: fenpropidin                                                                     % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IA   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0 (control)                                        1      2      --            0                                                 2      10     --           49                                                 3      20     --           76                                                 4     100     --           99                                                 5     200     --           100                                                6     --       20           0                                                 7     --      100           7                                                 8     --      200          34                                                 9     --      400          59                                                 10     2       20     1:10 55       0      *                                  11     10     100     1:10 73      52      1.4                                12     20     100     1:5  94      78      1.2                                ______________________________________                                         *synergy factor SF cannot be calculated                                  

EXAMPLE 6 Action Against Pyrenophora teres on Barley

6-day-old barley plants are sprayed to drip point with a spray mixtureprepared from a formulation of the active ingredient or activeingredient combination. After 2 days the plants are inoculated with aspore suspension of Pyrenophora teres and incubated in a greenhouse at21 ° C. and 90-100% humidity. After one week the fungal infestation isassessed. The following results are obtained:

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                        Compound IB: fludioxonil                                                                     % action                                                       Test  mg ai per liter    found   calculated                                                                            SF                                   No.   ai IB   ai II   I:II O       E       O/E                                ______________________________________                                        0     --      --           0(control)                                         1     0.6     --            0                                                 2     2       --           75                                                 3     6       --           80                                                 4     --      0.6           0                                                 5     --      2            20                                                 6     --      20           85                                                 7     0.6     0.6     1:1  40       0      *                                  8     0.6     2       1:3  40      20      2                                  9     6       0.2     30:1 95      80      1.2                                ______________________________________                                         *synergy factor SF cannot be calculated                                  

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant-microbicidal composition comprisingsynergistic fungicidally effective amounts of two active ingredientcomponents, whereincomponent I is1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine (fenpropidin) or asalt or a metal complex thereof;and component II is the2-anilinopyrimidine of formula II ##STR5##4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrimidineamine, or a salt or a metalcomplex thereof, together with an inert carrier, wherein the weightratio of the active ingredients I and II is in the range of 1:2 to 1:10.2. A method of controlling and preventing the occurrence of fungi onplants, which comprises treating with synergistic fungitidally effectiveamounts of component I and component II according to claim 1, in anydesired order or simultaneously, a site infested by or threatened withinfestation by fungi.
 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein plantpropagation material is treated.
 4. A method according to claim 3wherein seed is treated.